Weed management studies in onion (Allium cepa L.) seed crop

A field investigation entitled “Weed management studies in onion (Allium cepa L.) seed crop” was conducted in Rabi season of 2022 at the AICRP on Vegetables, MPKV, Rahuri to find out most suitable and efficient combination of different weed management methods in onion seed crop. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. The experiment consists of six treatments viz., T1-Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 250 g a.i/ha (PE) followed by Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC application at 25 days after planting, T2-Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 250 g a.i/ha (PE) followed by Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC application at 25 and 45 days after planting, T3-Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 250 g a.i/ha (PE) followed by Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC application at 25 DAP and one hand weeding at 60 days after planting, T4- Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @250 g a.i/ha (PE) followed by 1 HW at 40 DAP,T5-Hand weeding (weed free condition till harvest), T6-Weedy check (control). The pre-plant application of Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 250 g a.i/ha (PE) followed by post emergence application of Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC application at 25 DAP and one hand weeding at 60 days after planting resulted in effective control of various broad-leaf and grassy-weeds and recorded lowest weed density, weed dry weight, weed index and higher weed control efficiency. This treatment also produced higher Number of umbels stalks bulb-1, length of umbel stalk, diameter of umbel, number of seeds umbel-1, 1000 seed weight, and seed weight umbel-1. It also produced higher seed yield, gross return, net return and B: C ratio over all other weed control treatments.